Edge construction for a table top



March 26, 1957 w. E. NORDMARK 2,786,727

EDGE CONSTRUCTION FOR A TABLE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1955 lllg L V. V

ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 w NQRDMARK 4 2,786,727

EDGE CONSTRUCTION FOR A TABLE TOP Filed April 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I8 3 3 '7 .I7 I I7- INVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,786,727 EDGE CONSTRUCTION FOR A TABLE TOP Walter Nordmark, Grand Rapids, Micl1., assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 14, 1955, Serial No. 501,347 3 Claims. (Cl. 311-107) The present invention relates to a top construction for a table or the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a table top wherein a top panel is enclosed in a frame to which is connected the supporting structure of the table; and to provide such a frame for the top panel which can quickly and easily be securely assembled to the top panel and which is decorative and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a table, the top of which is constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts thereof taken through the top panel on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts thereof taken on lines 3-3 of Figures 1 and Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of parts thereof taken on lines 4-4 of Figures 1 and 5;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the table top taken on lines 55 of Figures 1, 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the table top in partially assembled condition; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the underside of the table, at one end thereof.

Referringnow in detail to this drawing wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the table there shown comprises a top generally designated 10 mounted on spaced supporting pedestals 11. The top panel 12 is a flat piece of plastic-surfaced plywood or other suitable material. An inner rim generally designated 13 is provided and comprises an upstanding outer wall 14 the lower portion of which slopes inwardly, a lower inwardly extending flange 15 and an upper flange 16 extending from the upper edge of the rims outer wall 14 inwardly beneath the lower marginal edge of the top panel 12 for supporting the top panel. Cross-struts 17 and corner struts 18 are secured as by welding to the inner rim 13, as seen in Figures 5-7, for strengthening the rim. The pedestals 11 are connected to the inner rim 13 and adjacent cross-struts 17 by brackets 19 secured as by welding each bracket to the inner rim 13, to a cross-strut 17 and to the adjacent pedestal 11.

An outer rim 20 is provided, and it is desirably made in complementary halves as indicated in Figure 6. This outer rim 20 comprises an upstanding outer wall 21 and an upper flange 22 extending from the upper edge of the outer wall inwardly above the upper marginal edge of the top panel 12. The outer rim 20 has a longitudinal retaining groove in its inner face beneath the top panel, said groove being formed between an upper bead 23 and a lower bead 24 which extend from the outer rims outer wall 21 inwardly and then toward each other, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4. Retaining strips 25 are inserted and retained in said retaining groove and are provided with inwardly struck deformable fingers 26 thereon which are projected inwardly through apertures 2,785,727 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 27 in the outer wall 14 of the inner rim 13. The upper surfaces of these fingers 26 are inclined inwardly-downwardly whereby their insertion through the apertures 27 forces the outer rim 20 downwardly to effect a clamping of the marginal edge of the top panel 12 between the upper flanges of the outer and inner rims. In the final assembly of the top the fingers 26 are deformed, either by bending them over as seen at the left of Figure 2 and in Figure 3 or by twisting them as seen at the right of Figure 2 and in Figure 4, thus to prevent withdrawal of the fingers outwardly through the apertures 27. The outer rim 20 is thus securely and permanently connected to the inner rim 13 with the top panel 12 clamped between the upper flanges of these rims.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown the top is assembled as illustrated in Figure 6. With the outer rim 20 made in two half-sections, each half-section is bent as at 28 to conform to one adjacent corner of the inner rim 13. Retaining strips 25 are then inserted in the grooves along the long sides of the outer rim 20, after which each half-section of the outer rim is bent as at 29 to conform to the other adjacent corner of the inner rim 13. Retaining strips 25 are then inserted into the grooves along the shorter sides of the outer rim 20. The top panel 12 is placed in position and thereafter the two half-sections of the outer rim are drawn tightly together and onto the inner rim with the top panel securely clamped between the upper flanges of the rims. The outer rim 20 is desirably an aluminum extrusion and thus lends an attractive decoration to the table top. While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

I claim: 1. A top construction for a table or the like, comprising: a top panel; an inner rim having an upstanding outer Wall provided with apertures therethrough and having an 0 upper flange extending from the upper edge of its outer wall horizontally inwardly beneath the lower marginal edge of said top panel for supporting the top panel; an outer rim having an upstanding outer wall and an upper flange extending from the upper edge of its outer wall horizontally inwardly above the upper marginal edge of said top panel, said outer rim having a longitudinal retaining groove in its inner face beneath the edge of the top panel; a retaining strip inserted and retained in said groove and provided with inwardly struck fingers registering with and projecting inwardly through the apertures in said inner rims outer wall for securing the outer walls of the outer and inner rims together.

2. A top construction according to claim 1 characterized by having the fingers deformed in the final assembly of the top to prevent their withdrawal outwardly through the apertures.

3. A top construction according to claim 1 characterized by having the upper surfaces of the fingers inclined inwardly-downwardly whereby their insertion through the apertures forces the outer rim downwardly to effect a clamping of the marginal edge of the top panel between the upper flanges of the outer and inner rims.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,330 Olson July 27, 1915 1,233,497 Ohnstrand July 17, 1917 1,705,152 Card Mar. 12, 1929 1,810,579 Schmitz June 16, 1931 1,815,167 Soper July 21, 1931 2,251,395 Campbell Aug. 5, 1941 2,605,157 Reitzel July 29. 1952 

